Category: Life

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About “taking what’s not yours” and the five senses

In this article I will share with you my thoughts about not taking what’s not ours. I will also talk about how we are exposed to many circumstance, especially through our five senses, where we have to exercise our judgment and decide whether to “take” what is not ours or not.

Making a sound judgment pays us well on a karmic and spiritual level. Always follow the golden rule:

Do unto others what you want them to do unto you

Remember that every action you make in life always comes with a price: physical, psychological, emotional and a karmic price.Remember that what goes around comes around. Continue reading “About “taking what’s not yours” and the five senses”

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The Thirty Imperishable Stars

The Thirty Imperishable Stars are directives and hints to help you attain the divine presence.

I received this parchment below when I joined the Fellowship Of Friends back in 2006 for a period of two month.

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The meaning of each work item or directive (as I like to call them), may not be evident to you directly, however, reset assured they contain deep meaning and lots of instructions to help you achieve and maintain presences and awareness (as the Buddhists’ call it).

I will dedicate future blog posts to expand upon the meaning of each directive and how the whole set work in unison to help you achieve the divine presence.

Stay tuned.

Other related articles that you may like:

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We are the sustainers of the world

It is said that we hold the world with our thoughts, the way we experience the world is how we collectively project our thoughts into it.

Everything exists for a reason and for something to be sustained there should be a sustainer, you, me and everyone else.

– How can there be health without illness?
– Doctors without patients?
– Bakers without hungry people?
– Lover without the object of love?
– Shops without shoppers?
– Products without consumers?
– Fashion without audience?
– Singers without listeners?
– Schools without students?
– Children without parents?
– Villains without heroes?
– Heroes without villains?
– Saints without sinners?
– Sinners without saints?

…
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Growing up with Cats

Hello,

Yesterday, I was walking in the park and saw volunteers from Community Cat Coalition of Washington, trying to recruit people to help with their cause and volunteer.

The lady had a young cat, wrapped in a sheet around her arms like a mom would hold a little baby.

For those of us, cat lovers, seeing such scene makes us kind of emotional and happy to the see the cat being taken care of.

I want to share with you my experience and relationship with cats, especially wild / rural cats. It is a long post though so you can read the parts that sound of interest to you.

Do you know the saying: “Curiosity killed the cat” ? Well, I hope your curiosity will entice you to read the whole thing eventually! 🙂

What follows is a set of stories and experiences relating to cats from my childhood and early adulthood between the age of 9 and 19 years old.

image  Continue reading “Growing up with Cats”

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Rice pudding recipe – just like my mom used to do it

Hello,

Today I am going to share with you a very simple but yet delicious recipe of rice pudding (just like my mom used to prepare it for me).

Ingredients

The recipe is too simple and require a few ingredients:

  • Rice: rice of your choice (brown, white, long, jasmine, …)
  • Sweetener: Pick a sweetener of your choice (sugar, Maple syrup, honey, etc…)
  • Milk: Milk of your choice. I tried it with both almond milk and regular cow milk

Continue reading “Rice pudding recipe – just like my mom used to do it”

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The healthy and tasty avocado shake recipe

Hello,

Today I am going to share with you a very healthy and tasty shake: Avocado Shake.

For this recipe you need:

  • Milk of your choice: I am using Almond Milk
  • Sweeteners (optional): It could be honey, white sugar, brown sugar, maple syrup
  • One Avocado
  • A blender: I am using the Magic Bullet

These are all the ingredients:

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First, cut the avocado in half and then use a spoon to carve the avocado out and put it in the cup:

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Second, add the milk and the sweetener (I use 3 tsps of brown sugar).

Third, blend the mix for 10 to 20 seconds and then you are ready to eat it:

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Calorie approximation:

  • Avocado: 225cal
  • Evaporated Cane Juice Organic Sugar (3tsp): 45cal
  • Almond Milk (one cup): 60cal

I usually add two dates and 5 pistachios to make this recipe even more tasty and healthy!

Please leave your comments or other suggestions.

Until the next time.

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Fasting Prayer

Fasting has one thousand and one benefits ranging from physical to spiritual. I have created this small prayer in the hope of giving you willpower while you are in a fast:


Oh Lord,

Help me fast from this day until the end of my fast,
May my efforts be used by you,
May my body be detoxified,
May my soul be purified,
May the money and food that I save daily be used to feed the poor,
May your grace and love fill me every day,

Thy will be done.

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mankoushe recipe – Thyme Pizza

Hello,

Today I am going to share with you how to make a “zaatar mankoushe” (in Arabic) which roughly gets translated to “Thyme Pizza”.

A friend of mine taught me this specific preparation technique. The recipe is so simple to prepare. Essentially, you need 3 ingredients:

First, the thyme mix. You can buy the thyme mix from Mediterranean places:

image Continue reading “mankoushe recipe – Thyme Pizza”

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Me, myself and smoking cigarettes – A little story

Introduction

In this blog post I am going to share with you my story with smoking cigarettes for five or so years, how it all started, why I stopped and how.

I will try to make this post pleasant to read and inspirational so by the end of it you will get encouraged to think again about your smoking habit.

Before we begin, would you care for a short story? Continue reading “Me, myself and smoking cigarettes – A little story”

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Meeting Amma, Mata Amritanandamayi Devi (2013)

Introduction

On 05/24/2013, Amma (also known as Mata Amritanandamayi Devi) was visiting Bellevue, Washington as part of her north America tour.

It was the first time for me to go and see her. Many of my acquaintances talk about her, be it acquaintances from France, Belgium or those from where I currently live (in the Seattle area).

They say she has lots of energy and that she can help me in my spiritual path. A quote attributed to her is worthwhile mentioning:

Amma’s hugs and kisses should not be considered ordinary. When Amma embraces or kisses someone, it is a process of purification and inner healing. Amma is transmitting a part of Her pure, vital energy into Her children. It also allows them to experience true, unconditional Love. When Amma holds someone it can help to awaken the dormant spiritual energy within them, which will eventually take them to the ultimate goal of Self-realization. — Amma

She hugs people for free, however during her visit, a 3-days retreat (that costs $290) is offered.

During the retreat, spiritual lectures are given, a proprietary meditation technique called “IAM – Integrated Amrita Meditation Technique®” is offered for free among the other things that are part of the retreat.

I mainly went to the retreat in order to learn the IAM meditation technique and also to get to experience this infamous hug and see how it bestows unconditional love.

The rest of the article will describe my experience from my point of view. Please know that I am not bashing or defaming Amma in any way. This blog post is to share my observations and thoughts with others. Continue reading “Meeting Amma, Mata Amritanandamayi Devi (2013)”

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My religion

Today I was flipping through an old notebook and I ran into a note that dates back to 09/26/2011.

It was a nice reminder and worth sharing, I hope you find an inspiration by reading it.

The note’s title was: “My Religion” and it reads:

  • I am a free human being. I believe in being a good citizen, respecting the law and justice
  • All humans have equal rights that do not transgress the rights of others
  • All humans have the freedom of choice, thought and religion (or non religion)
  • As I’m created (constructed) so shall I be deconstructed
  • I believe in my deeds
  • Be aware and considerate. Love and serve others in the means of your capacity
  • Harvest pure thoughts and learn to purify your heart and mind from thoughts that can harm others and cause you to harm yourself
  • Treat your neighbor as you want him/her to treat you
  • No fear can instill in my heart as long as I do no harm or misdeed in/during my life on earth
  • Religious or non religious people are still people. May everyone find personal peace
  • May freedom from fear prevail
  • Live and express yourself. Make your homeland earth like your own personal dwelling (like you do in your home). Treat it with respect, earn your living and respect other peoples’ boundaries
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Improve and track your sleeping patterns with Zeo Sleep Manager Pro

What is Zeo Sleep Manager Pro

Zeo Sleep Manager Pro is a system composed of a headband sensor and a Bluetooth transmitter unit. It records the brainwave activity (during sleep) and send the data to another Bluetooth capable device for recording and further analysis.

The Zeo headband connects to software running on an iOS or Android device (via Bluetooth).

Additionally, Zeo provides a website where your sleep data can be uploaded so you can analyze the data or export it for use with other software.

In this blog post, I will be sharing with you my experience with this unit. For tips on how to improve your sleep, I recommend this article. Continue reading “Improve and track your sleeping patterns with Zeo Sleep Manager Pro”

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Introduction To Fasting

 

Topic: Introduction To Fasting
Author: Elias Bachaalany

What is fasting

Fasting is the act of abstaining from food (all food). It is not as simple as it sounds for some nor impossible for others but for its proven therapeutical effects it will become worthwhile the efforts.

Fasting is not something new, it is mentioned throughout the book of Exodus. Moses, Elijah, Gandhi, Jesus and others fasted for up to 40 days. Christians also use a variation of fast, where they fast half a day and stop taking meat for a 40 days period. Also Muslim fast during Ramadan.

I may here note that starvation, the denial of food supply by accident or intent from a system that is in need of that food, is not fasting at all!

“We may talk about sex being the strongest fleshly drive, but it is not. We may think ego is the strongest of the fleshly impulses, but it is not. From the day we are born, the desire for food reigns dominant.” [B]

Continue reading “Introduction To Fasting”

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Footprints in the Sand

Many times in life we have doubt, lack of faith and we are always tempted to shout and say: “God, where are you? Why are you not helping me!”. I love to share this story with you as it helped me gain more confidence in life:
jesus-umbrellaOne night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there was one only.
This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints, so I said to the Lord:
“You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there has only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?”
The Lord replied:  “The years when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you.”

origin: Mary Stevenson, 1936